Rope-measuring device.



No. 839,490. PATENTED DEC. 25, 1906. D. H. LITTLETON, J. W. HUDSON & L.W. FOLLIS.

ROPE MEASURING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZZ. 1906.

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DAVID H. LITTLETON, JOHNSTON W. HUDSON, AND LEE W. FOLLIS, OF HUMBOLDT,TENNESSEE.

ROPE-MEASURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 1906.

Application filed March 22.1906. Serial No. 307,452.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, DAVID H. LITTLE- TON, JOHNSTON W. HUDSON, and LEEW. FOLLIs, citizens of the United States, residing at Humboldt, in thecounty of Gibson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and usefulRope-Measuring Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to devices for measuring rope and similarproducts or material, and has for its object to improve the constructionand increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Vith this and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature ofthe invention is better understood, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described andclaimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters,is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment -of the inventioncapable of carrying the same into practical Operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation` Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of theimproved device.

The improved device comprises a supporting casing or frame 10, having amain shaft 1 1 journaled through its upper part and carrying a measuringdrum or wheel 12 exteriorly of the casing and with a worm-pinion 13within the casing. Extending from the casing 10 are guide members 14 15,spaced apart and disposed in alinement with the rim of the drum 12, orso arranged that the rope being measured, a portion of which isrepresented at 16, when passed beneath the guides will extend in astraight line between the guides and also bear against the adjacent faceof the drum. The guide members are attached at 17 to the casing 10 andbear over the rope 16, which is being measured, and are inclinedoutwardly and upwardly on their lower faces so that the rope will freelyride beneath them and not be obstructed thereby.

Pivoted at 18 within the casing 10 is a lever-arm 19, extending throughan aperture 2O in the front of the casing and with atransversely-disposed plate 21 at its outer free end, the plate bearingbeneath the rope 16 and'r'extending nearly to the guide members 14 15.The bearing arm or plate 21 is also provided with upturned spaced lips22 23, which partly inclose the rope and prevent the rope from movinglaterally. The lever member 19 is held yi eldably, with its plate 21 incontact with the rope, by a spring 24, disposed within the casing 10, asIshown in Fig. 2. The plate 21 is also provided with aforwardly-extending lip or lug 25 to provide a linger-grip to enable theoperator to readily depress the plate 2l when it is desired to releasethe rope from engagement with the measuring-drum.

Mounted for rotation through the casing 10 is a shaft 26, carrying aworm-gear 27 for engagement by the worm-pinion 13 and eX- tending at oneend through the casing 10 and provided upon its extended end with anindex or pointer 2S. Attached to the casing 10 and surrounding theprojecting end of the shaft 26 is a dial 29, having spaced graduations30 suitably numbered, as shownin Fig. 3. The drum 12 is of a certainpredetermined circumference, preferablythirty-six inches or one yard,and the graduations on the dial 29 will denote feet andinches or yardsor other dimensions, as may be-required.

The diameters of the worm-pinion 13 and the worm-gear 27 will be soproportioned that the indicator 2S in moving ov er the dial willcorrespond to and denote the length of the rope 16 which is caused topass in contact with the measuring-drum, as will be obvious, so that theoperator may read the amount of rope measured upon the dial. Thus anydesired amount of the ro e or other similar material may be measure andthe exact amount thus measured will be indicated upon the dial.

The arrangement whereby the rope is held in a straight line between theguides 14 l5 is an important feature of the invention and addsmaterially to the value and efficiency of the device, as the rope isthereby drawn straight forward and contacts with the measuring-drumuniformly and insures accurate measurement of the rope. The rope beingheld by the relatively long tension member in a straight line while incontact with the measuring-wheel cannot be deflected out of its straightline, no matter how great the pressure may be. Consequently themeasurement will be uniform and accurate.

IOO

The relatively long plate 21, with its guards 22 23, holds the rope inposition against the measuring-drum and prevents all tendency todeflection or displacement while the measuring action is proceeding.

The device is simple in construction7 accurate and certain in itsaction, and may beinexpensively manufactured and employed for measuringall sizes of ropes and similar products.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Ameasuring device comprising a casing, a worm-shaft journaled forrotation within the casing and projecting beyond the side thereof, ameasuring-wheel attached to said worm-shaft and being located exteriorofthe casing, a gear-wheel meshing with lthe worm of said shaft, a shaftj ournaled in the casing and supporting said gear-wheel, anindicator-dial located upon the exterior of the casing, an4indicator-pointer attached to the gear-wheel shaft and operating oversaid dial,

a lever fulcrunled within the casing., a spring engaging said lever,said lever having an end which projects beyond the casing and whichterminates below the measuring-wheel.

2. A measuring device of the character indicated comprising ameasuring-wheel journaled for rotation and an indicator mechanismoperatively connected with the same, a spring-actuated lever terminatingadjacent the periphery of said wheel and having spaced guides disposedtoward the wheel, guides supported adjacent the end ofsaid lever anddisposed in the o positedirection to the guides carried by the ever.

In testimony that we claim -the foregoing as our own we have heretoaffixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID H. LITTLETON.y JOHNSTON W. HUDSON. LEE W. F-OLLIS. Witnesses:

O. W. RooK-s, A G. F. TATUM.

